Chamber Music Society Gathers Quartet For Concert Both Modern and Romantic

The Martha’s Vineyard Chamber Music Society, which has been bringing world-class music to the Island since 1971, presents its last concert of the year this Saturday evening in Edgartown.

Violinist Joanna Kurkowicz, concertmistress of the Boston Philharmonic Orchestra, has been praised in the press for her “passion, authority and sheer élan.” Of cellist Scott Kluksdahl, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette has written: “He is a virtuoso artist who can bring music to life. Moreover, his playing expresses the joy in making music.” And violist Scott Woolweaver, artist in residence at Williams College, was a founding member of the Vaener String Trio; a founding member of the Boston Composers String Quartet; and has been a member of the Ives Quartet, based in San Francisco, since 1999.

These are no musical slouches who join pianist Delores Stevens, artistic director of the Chamber Music Society, on the stage of the Old Whaling Church this Saturday, Nov. 24, for the society’s annual Thanksgiving weekend concert. Mrs. Stevens, a founder of the society who maintains homes in Chilmark and in California, will be at the piano for all four pieces on the concert program, which ranges from the romantic to modern traditions.

The program will open with a composition that is arguably both modern and romantic — the Two Pieces for Piano and Viola by Frank Bridges (1879-1941), performed by Mr. Woolweaver and Mrs. Stevens. Ms. Kurkowicz will join the society’s artistic director in performing the next piece, the three-movement Sonata #1 in G Major, Opus 78, by Johannes Brahms. Mr. Kluksdahl and Mrs. Stevens will perform the Grand Tango for Cello and Piano by Astor Piazzolla, and after an intermission, the entire ensemble will join in performing the Piano Quartet in C minor, Opus 13, by Richard Strauss.

The music begins at 7:30 p.m., admission is $15 and students are always admitted free to programs of the chamber society. Saturday’s program is supported in part by a grant from the Martha’s Vineyard Cultural Council.